Peanut Butter Protein cookies

Sharing another recipe I found (here) for Peanut Butter Protein cookies. If you can't tell by my recent posts, I'm trying to incorporate more protein in my diet. Mainly trying to make my breakfasts and snacks more protein packed. I'm finding myself snacking ALL the time and I HATE it. So I'm taking this as a sign to up my water intake and make better snack choices.

I firmly believe "sweets" in moderation are o.k. I lost 60 lbs, but never once cut out sugar (except soda).

I was VERY excited to stumble across this recipe. They are pretty tasty and clean!

Ingredients:

1 Egg 

1/2 sugar substitute. - *I actually used raw sugar and only a 1/3 cup.

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup natural peanut butter - *I didn't use quite a cup.

1/2 cup vanilla whey protein

Mix egg, sugar, & extract together. Stir in peanut butter then slowly add protein. The protein really thickens it up, so add it slowly!

These are really filling. I felt 'full' after 1 small cookie. I got about 14 cookies total. Enjoy! :)

Strawberry Spinach salad

I think I've blogged about this before...but my favorite lunch the past few months has been this salad. It's so good and not a bad ingredient in it!

3-4 cut up strawberries

1-2 slices of apple

Chopped almonds

1/2 hard boiled egg

Handful of spinach

I used a homemade strawberry balsamic 'dressing'. 

Protein Pancakes

Going to share this delicious recipe I found for protein pancakes. I originally found it on this blog. I of course, changed it up a bit.

Ingredients:

1/4 c. egg whites

1 scoop vanilla whey protein

2 tbsp. milk (almond milk works just fine as well)

1 tsp. cinnamon

1tbsp. ground flaxseed

1/2 banana - mashed - optional

Handful of blueberries - also optional

I topped mine with the bananas instead of mixing them in and also strawberries and powered stevia.  Peanut butter or honey would be yummy on top as well. You cook them just like regular pancakes. Also, don't expect them to taste like pancakes, they are a much healthier alternative and a great way to get protein that will keep you full until lunch! But they are yummy. Enjoy!

I only got about 4 pancakes, so it doesn't make much. 

Cabrillo National Momument

I've been dying to go back to Point Loma and visit Cabrillo National Monument and lighthouse. We finally went back yesterday and it was a beautiful day.

Looking at Tijuana, Mexico.

Cabrillo National Momument

Love the mountains behind the city. And the fighter jet taking off.

Original lighthouse, I think? Now a CG station.

I believe this was Fort Rosecran's National cemetery, but I'm not 100% certain.

So peaceful.

Point Loma might just be my favorite "town" in San Diego. 

Oatmeal Creme pies

Yesterday, I also made homemade oatmeal creme pie cookies. You know, the Little Debbie kind? Warning: They are extremely sweet, but so yummy! Next time I won't use near the powdered sugar for the creme filling. Also, just the oatmeal cookies alone are delicious! Maybe my favorite cookie ever!

Oatmeal Cookie.

Here is what you will need: Oatmeal Cookies

1 1/4 c. butter

1 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. sugar

1 1/2 c. flour

3 c. oats

1 egg

2 tsp. vanilla

1tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375.

Beat butter and sugar until creamy. (I had to melt/soften butter first)

Add egg & vanilla - mix well.

Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in separate bowl. Mix well.

Add oats to flour mix, mix well.

Add to butter/sugar mix and blend well. (I blended this step with a spoon)

Drop rounded tbsp's 2" apart on baking sheets. If you use traditional baking sheet (not cookie sheet) line with parchment paper. I needed 2 additional baking sheets after filling up my cookie sheet. It makes over 3 dozen cookies.

Bake 10 minutes. Leave cookies on pan for 2 more minutes. 

Transfer to cooling rack. 

Cool completely before adding creme filling.

How yummy does that look?

They are SWEET!

Creme Filling Recipe:

1/2 c. soft butter

2 c. powdered sugar (I'd maybe cut this in half)

2 tbsp whipping cream

1 tsp. vanilla

Combine everything in bowl. Beat on low until mixed well.

Then beat on high until fluffy.

I adapted this recipe from Blooming on Bainbridge

Homemade Beef Jerky

I'm a BIG lover of beef jerky, but hate paying $5 for a tiny, half full bag that doesn't last 2 days. So I was thrilled to find this homemade recipe in a clean eating magazine. I can't say it makes much more than a store bought bag, but that can easily be fixed by just buying more meat. I used top round sirloin that I usually get for around $1.50 for 1/2 - 1 lb.

I used two packages of top round sirloin. Because it's thin and easy to cut.

Tried to cut each strip around the same size. Got 10 strips total.

I adapted this marinade from the magazine.

Marinade Recipe:

Soy sauce/teriyaki baste - I probably used 1 tbsp of soy sauce and 1/4 cup of the baste.

1/4 cup worcestershire sauce (again, didn't measure, just kind of eyed it.)

1 tbsp. honey

2 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. onion powder (did not use this)

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. cayenne pepper (I added this, the jerky is pretty spicy. So if you aren't crazy about spice, leave this out.)

1 tsp. paprika

Let marinate in fridge for about 3 hours, no more than 6.

After a couple hours of marinating. Ring excess marinade off strips, line on paper towel and continue dabbing excess marinade off. You want them dry.

I lined 3-4 on skewers and hung in oven. Place top rack as high as you can. Place lined baking sheet underneath. Set oven to lowest setting (above warm). Usually between 140-175 degrees. Place rolled up kitchen towel in oven door to keep it slightly open to let out moisture. Cook for 5 hours, check for doneness, continue cooking for 1-2 hours. I forgot to check after 5 hours and let mine cook for the full 7. They seem ok.

Finished jerky. I broke the strips up so they would fit in the tupperware. Store at room temp.  It says to "loosely store" them.

You could of course substitute teriyaki flavor for BBQ. Might try that next! Enjoy!

2 Peas?

Funny story. Right before I took these, I was trying to pop Taylor's back. Sophie whacked me upside the head with a toy because she thought I was hurting her Dada. She was very distraught. So here she is protecting Taylor from mean Mama. :)

So far in January...

Sunset at Cabrillo National Monument. Hope to go back there this weekend and explore! The view of the city is amazing. And the national cemetery (think Arlington) overlooking the Pacific is humbling. Point Loma is definitely one of my favorite places in San Diego.

Sunset Cliffs. Watching some killer waves!

12ft swells. Never heard waves so loud!

Avocado Dip

My husband loves all things avocado, so I adapted a recipe found on Pinterest. 

Sweet white corn (drained), black beans (drained) 1 tomato, 1 avocado, Tapatio sauce, garlic salt, & pepper.

I mixed corn and beans together first. Then added tomato, garlic salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Mixed together really well. Then added avocado last. 

Finished product. Hope he enjoys it while watching Clemson kick some Mountaineer booty tonight!! Go Orange and Purple!!